Network Environment

Interview your university network specialist. Ask how various parts of the system communicate with each other throughout the university. (Q) Given the chance to redesign the existing setup, enumerate and discuss your keypoints for an effective and efficient network environment ideal for the university.


We can never deny that technology is growing bigger and had made a big impact in every person’s daily life. On our case, a network is everywhere and a great area for the University to communicate within. In a network, different computer workstations are connected by cabling or wireless systems. This allows them to communicate with each other, including mass electronic mail capabilities. Workstations are sometimes attached to data handling hardware such as servers, which hold a large amount of data, and distribute it as needed to other parts of the network, all of these complex systems require staff to set up, maintain and troubleshoot the entire network to make sure that the business always has the capabilities that the network was intended to support.

Network specialist is the one who is in charge on maintaining and supervising a network. A network specialist is someone who deals with computer networks professionally. The general category of network specialist professionals includes individuals who do a lot of different work with various computer networking systems. They are skilled in various kinds of computer repair and computer maintenance. They are a vital addition to an information technology department, because they can respond quickly to various network issues. When part of a network malfunctions, it can create an extreme problem for a business very quickly.

In the University of Southeastern Philippines, our University Network Specialist is Engr. Ariel Roy L. Reyes, but due to the busy schedule of Engr. Reyes he decided to just cater the student as a class rather than a one on one interview. He was given a questionnaire made by the class and distributed it after. Thus, obviously almost all of us have the same thoughts.

We have asked him how the various parts of the system in the University interact with each other. Unfortunately, he is not the right person to answer this, instead MR. Jappeht M. Fortich and Dr. Tamar Cher R. Mercado, our University Programmers were the best person to share regarding the System Development.

Another question was “What are the components involved in the system(s) in the university? (hardware, software, technology, etc.)”

Engr. Reyes have responded that, “I am not in the right position to discuss the details of the software components used as there are other assigned personnel for such job. However, talking about hardware component and technology used, basically I, assigned as the network administrator, is entrusted to maintain our different servers to run 24/7. Currently, we have our Web Server hosted here in our University in our HP ProLiant ML350 Server. Its an old but stable server set-up here in our Networks Office and has been active since Engr. Val A. Quimno , not yet a dean, was appointed as the Network Administrator. The said server has the following specification:

• Intel Xeon 3.0 GHz, 3.2 GHz, or 3.4 GHz processors (dual processor capability) with 1MB level 2 cache standard. Processors include support for Hyper-Threading and Extended Memory 64 Technology (EM64T)
• Intel® E7520 chipset
• 800-MHz Front Side Bus
• Integrated Dual Channel Ultra320 SCSI Adapter
• Smart Array 641 Controller (standard in Array Models only)
• NC7761 PCI Gigabit NIC (embedded)
• Up to 1 GB of PC2700 DDR SDRAM with Advanced ECC capabilities (Expandable to 8 GB)
• Six expansion slots: one 64-bit/133-MHz PCI-X, two 64-bit/100-MHz PCI-X, one 64-bit/66-MHz PCI-X, one x4 PCI-Express, and one x8 PCI-Express
• New HP Power Regulator for ProLiant delivering server level, policy based power management with industry leading energy efficiency and savings on system power and cooling costs
• Three USB ports: 1 front, 1 internal, 1 rear
• Support for Ultra320 SCSI hard drives (six hot plug or four non-hot plug drives supported standard, model dependent)
• Internalstorage capacity of up to 1.8TB; 2.4TB with optional 2-bay hot plug SCSI drive
• 725W Hot-Plug Power Supply (standard, most models); optional 725W Hot-Pluggable Redundant Power Supply (1+1) available. Non hot plug SCSI models include a 460W non-hot plug power supply.
• Tool-free chassis entry and component access
• Support for ROM based setup utility (RBSU) and redundant ROM
• Systems Insight Manager, SmartStart, and Automatic Server Recovery 2 (ASR-2) included
• Protected by HP Services and a worldwide network of resellers and service providers.
Three-year Next Business Day, on-site limited global warranty. Certain restrictions and exclusions apply. Pre-Failure Notification on processors, memory, and SCSI hard drives.

Aside from it, our mail server running under Compaq Proliant ML330 Server, our oldest server, is also hosted here in our Networks Office. Together with other Servers, such as Proxy and Enrollment Servers, both proxy and our enrollment servers are running in microcomputer/personal computers but with higher specifications to act as servers.


Next question is about the network connectivity, “How do these communicate with one another? (topology, network connectivity, protocols, etc.) – may include data flow/ UML diagrams to better explain.”

According to him, “All Servers are connected in a shared medium grouped as one subnetwork. In general, our network follows the extended star topology which is connected to a DUAL WAN Router that serves as the load balancer between our two Internet Service Providers. All other workstations are grouped into different subnetworks as in star topology branching out from our servers subnetwork as in extended star topology. At present, we are making use of class C IP Address for private IP address assignments. Other workstations IP assignments are configured statically (example: laboratories) while others are Dynamic (example: offices). All workstations are connected via our proxy servers that do some basic filtering/firewall to control user’s access to the internet aside from router filtering/firewall management. So, whenever any workstation has to connect to the internet, it has to pass through software and hardware based firewall.”


He was asked on what are the processes involved in the communication (each system to other systems)?

Relative to what Engr. Reyes mentioned above, all workstations are connected via a proxy server. It means that whenever a workstation is turned on, it requests for an IP address from the proxy server (for dynamically configured IP address) and connect to the network after IP address is acquired. As connection is established, each system can now communicate and share resources within the same subnetwork and to server following the concepts discuss in your Computer Network Class.

About the maintenance of the system, they go along by always checking the network servers. He said “basically, our servers are expected to be in good condition since it is required to be up 24/7. Daily, during my vacant period, monitoring on the servers are observed that includes checking logs, checking hardware performance such as CPU health, etc. If problems are observed, remedies are then and then applied. Once in a week, regular overall checkup is observed as preventive maintenance to ensure not to experience longer downtime if possible.”

In the question if the system follow specific standard, he mentioned that different networking standards was already observed such as cabling standards TIA/EIA 568A-B, different IEEE standards which have been discussed in your Computer Networks Subject, etc. Since he was appointed as the Network Administrator, everything was already in place except for some minor changes.

In terms of the security of the system, the vulnerabilities and risk are being mitigated with some process. They have implemented both software and hardware based filtering/firewall which is a part of a computer system or network that is designed to block unauthorized access while permitting authorized communications. It is a device or set of devices which is configured to permit or deny computer applications based upon a set of rules and other criteria. Essentially, they have considered different mitigation techniques for the risks and vulnerabilities to increase the security in the University network. Aside from these things, constant monitoring on networks activity also increases the security of the system.

With regards to some network interferences and how it affects the business cycle of the University, is somehow unexpected in any network.

Major Interferences are normally encountered as an effect of unforeseen and beyond our control events such as black outs, and the like. The said interference would of course affect University’s day-to-day businesses for obviously this will paralyze all our activities that rely on electricity and further this might cause damage on our network devices, etc. that may later be the reason for longer downtime. Problems encountered by our providers such as connection to the National/International Gateway also affect University’s business such as correlating to University’s Business Partners outside and within the country.

University networking is precisely apparent by most colleges and universities to be one of mainly significant issues they are facing at present. A university grounds network is far more than just a physical infrastructure and planning and building a university grounds network really means mounting an entirely new information setting that will have a profound impact on almost every aspect of campus life. In building networks, campuses are engaged in a change process that is strategically essential to their very nature and existence. For me, before you design your any network setup, you need to understand the physical and logical aspects of your current environment. From a physical standpoint, your design depends on the type and integrity of your network infrastructure.

However, your hardware and software environment affects the details of how users adopt the system. So it is important to understand that network planning really means planning a whole new environment that will encompass information, communication, and entertainment on the campus. The network will provide a powerful, dynamic, new channel of access to the world of information. It will also enhance and fundamentally alter the communication mechanisms on campus. And whether we want it or not, the network will provide a wide range of new entertainment opportunities. This new environment will encompass or touch all the information technology area which will challenge, compete with, and sometimes replace existing modes of campus communications, information access, administrative work, power hierarchies, and budgeting systems.

Reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_network

Assuming you were tapped by the university president to evaluate the new enrollment system implemented this semester, enumerate your observations/comments and suggest possible areas and ways where improvements can be made. Your observations/suggestions should be properly validated with facts and literatures...(you may start with the diagrams posted in the strategic locations of the

university)...

It is now on its second year of implementation of the new enrollment system spearheaded by our department Institute of Computing. However, I must say that there are still some lapses and failures in terms of the SRMIS especially now that sometimes I was able to use the system. It was last summer S.Y. 2008-2009 when the new enrollment system was implemented. By the use of tarpaulins posted outside each department, the students are thoroughly guided.

With the non-IC students, they will not really pay attention to what kind of diagram use in illustrating the enrollment system, all that matters to them is that it will serve as steer for the enrollment. But until now, I could say that I’m still confused if they used a data flow diagram or a use case.

The New Enrollment System

Enrollment Procedure for New students and Transferees

STEP 1 – UNIVERSITY GUIDANCE AND TESTING OFFICE

o Encoding of Student Information.

o Identification No. Assignment.

STEP 2 – OFFICE OF STUDENT SERVICES (Scholars Only)

o Scholarship Application.

o Releasing of Scholarship Card.

STEP 3 – ROTC/CWTS

o Registration and Sectioning of ROTC/CWTS.

o Releasing of ROTC/CWTS slip.

STEP 4 – COLLEGE

o Present enrollment requirements.

o Advising / Pre-Registration.

o Payment of other fees (Local Council fee, Obrero Campus Student Council fee, collegiate headlight fee and Insurance).

o Encoding.

o Assessment of fees.

o Temporary Certificate of Registration Printing.

STEP 5 – STUD ACCTS. (Scholars Only)

o Submit Temporary Certificate of Registration.

o Posting of Accounts.

STEP 5 – CASHIER (Paying Students)

o Submit Temporary Certificate of Registration.

o Payment of Matriculation.

o Official Receipt Printing.

STEP 6 – REGISTRAR

o Submit enrollment requirements.

Form 138 (High School Card).

Photocopy of NSO Birth Certificate.

USEPAT Entrance Exam Result.

Admission Slip.

Medical Certificate.

Certificate of Good Moral (Original).

2 pcs. 2x2 recent ID picture.

Prospectus of the enrolled course.

1 pc. Long brown envelop.

Official receipt of tuition and other fees.

o Printing of Official Certificate of Registration.

Enrollment Procedure for Shiftees

STEP 1 – STUD ACCTS.

o Check students’ accounts.

o Check balance.

o Clearance signing.

STEP 2 – FORMER COLLEGE

o Request to shift.

o Recommendation to shift.

STEP 3 – NEW COLLEGE

o Acceptance of Shiftee

o Advising / Pre- Registration.

STEP 4 – UNIVERSITY GUIDANC

E AND TESTING OFFICE / OFFICE OF STUDENT SERVICES

o Student Profile Updating

STEP 5 – NEW COLLEGE

o Payment of other fees (Local Council fee , Obrero Campus Student Council fee, Collegiate headlight fee and Insurance).

o Encoding.

o Assessment of fees.

o Temporary Certificate of Registration Printing.

STEP 6 – STUD ACCTS. (Scholars Only)

o Submit Temporary Certificate of Registration.

o Posting of Accounts.

STEP 6 – CASHIER (Paying Students)

o Submit Temporary Certificate of Registration.

o Payment of Matriculation.

o Official Receipt Printing.

STEP 7 – REGISTRAR

o Present Clearance.

o Present Official Receipts (Tuition and other fees).

o Printing of Official Certificate of Registration.

Enrollment Procedure for old students

STEP 1 – STUD ACCTS.

o Check students’ accounts.

o Check balance.

o Clearance signing.

STEP 2 – COLLEGE

o Advising / Pre- Registration

o Payment of other fees (Local

Council fee , Obrero Campus Student Council fee, Collegiate headlight fee and Insurance).

o Encoding.

o Assessment of fees.

o Temporary Certificate of Registration Printing.

STEP 3 – STUD ACCTS. (Scholars Only)

o Submit Temporary Certificate of Registration.

o Posting of Accounts.

STEP 3 – CASHIER (Paying Students)

o Submit Temporary Certificate of Registration.

o Payment of Matriculation.

o Official Receipt Printing.

STEP 4 – REGISTRAR

o Present Clearance.

o Present Official Receipts (Tuition and other fees).

o Printing of Official Certificate of Registration.

It is very noticeable that the sizes of the arrows hold opposing views that much. There are arrows that looks big which I think not so as to essential to look that way. There is also an arrow from student accounts which are applicable for scholars only pointing to cashier when in fact after the scholars submitted their temporary COR to the bookkeeper and have been checked they will go directly to the registrar.

If I were to say, the kind of arrows shown in the pictures above was not carefully thought before being posted. Maybe it was prepared well but there is no consistency with the diagrams just by looking with these small details. There are also small and big arrows pointing on the same direction which I think are better when it is drawn with definite size.

If I may add, in consideration for the scholars, if you will see the illustration I discerned that the scholarship card validation which takes place at the office of the student’s services was not in it. For the scholars like me, could not have our Pre- Registration form (PRF) encoded unless we can have our scholarship cards (Blue cards) validated. Well in fact, almost half of the students of the university are scholars and with this small disregard may cause some problems during enrollment.

In observation, the processes portrayed by the new enrollment system do not greatly differ to that of the old enrollment system. It has the same initial steps and same manner of dealing out with the transactions.

It was not like that during the previous enrollment system, the previous enrollment system had the encoders give you four copies of the COR, one copy is yours; the others are to be handed to the university bookkeeper and registrar’s office. But before after paying to the cashier (for the non-scholar), they will give the student two copies of the COR, one for the registrar and one for the student. But now, they will only receive a receipt for what they have paid and then they will be waiting for a very long queue of line of students for registration. I thought is they don’t really need a lot of documents any more since the database is now computerized and will be found on the server somewhat on the steel cabinets.

I think it was not that easy because as I have said awhile ago this time, the student will have to wait at the university registrar longer than you needed to since it takes a lot of time to print new sets of CORs. For Old students like us, I think these kinds of diagrams may be not that important at all. Old students from the university already know how the enrollment system in the university flows. Although the system was new, as for students nothing is new, we still doing the same as what we have always do during enrollment last semester. The students will just say that though they are the customers but still they are not the one operating the system so I don’t think that the tarpaulin was really needed.

Taking the side for the new students or transferees, it is really a must to have an illustration but then again the illustration posted, I think was not that accurate enough at least for those transferees. Not all transferees have to take up ROTC/CWTS; they may have already taken it up on their previous school. Transferee’s needs to have their subjects taken from other school validated here if the course or subject description is the same so that he/she don’t have to take it all over again here.

Well, there is no big deal when it comes to the process because we all know as a student, we have to do all the procedures whether we like it or not. But for the convenience of the students, the University should hire or assign more personnel to accommodate a lot of students. The university should also provide electric fans around the cashier and registrar area. The area was too small; and should be relocated to a bigger area, more conducive for us students. These areas were too small for all the students from the seven colleges.

I suppose that there is still no major adjustment found in the system software that would affect to how the transactions are handled, the effectiveness of the system, and other factors. The speed to how the communications are processed still depends on the cooperation and how the people adopt the system.

USEP Pre-enrollment procedures:

USE CASE DIAGRAM for New students:

SCHEDULE FOR EXAM

• The student first submit all examination requirements to UGTO office.
  The UGTO then accept the requirements then give pay slip to the student.
  The student then pay USEPAT fee to the Cashier, then Cashier issue official receipt.
  The student go back to UGTO then present O.R. #.
  The UGTO then gives schedule for exam.

EXAMINATION SCHEDULE

• The student take USEPAT exam with english proficiency test.
  The student will wait for results.
  The student who passed will automatically secure an admission slip and then take medical examination.
  The student who failed will take English Bridge Program then after secure admission slip, have a medical examination and be ready for enrollment.
  

OLD STUDENTS:

• The student should get all his grades.
  The student process his clearance and have it all sign.
  The student pays all the local and miscellaneous fees.
  The student go to adviser for subject advising and be ready for enrollment.

STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR INFORMATION SYSTEM

fast forward ..., you were hired and have been tasked to develop a strategic information systems plan for a company. The company officers have extended an invitation for you to meet with them to discuss the direction of the company. Before this meeting, they have asked that you provide a list of questions with some explanation about the "why" of the question so they can be prepared, thus maximizing the output from this meeting.

Develop a list of questions you would ask the officers of the company and give an explanation and justification for each question.

These are the list of questions:

• Does your company use Modeling techniques to facilitate IT planning? Why?

In a Strategic planning, it is important to create a reference model and methodologies because it captures and characterize the enterprise which shortens the response cycle form Information Systems employment and deployment. This is in order to achieve competitiveness among other companies. It also establishes the relationship between the overall organizational
plan and the IT plan.

• Why do you think that strategic planning for information systems is essential to your organization?

Strategic planning is essential because it process your organization to establish priorities that a company would use in its future endeavor. For organizational success, strategic planning is moreover very important especially in times of increasingly rapid change in technology. Also the organization must also consider that Strategic Plans cannot succeed without people, time, money, and other key resources

• Does your company identify tools and methodology for your Information Technology planning? Why?

During strategic planning, several tools and methodologies have been used to ease the development of Information Technology planning within the organization. Thus, methods existed to help the organizations to align their business strategies with the organizational strategies. It is an aid to identify the opportunities for the company to utilize Information Technology for competitive advantage. And in analyzing the internal processes of an organization, these methodologies start with the evaluation of the strategies that check the industry, competition and competitiveness. Other methodologies have been used to help create and rationalize the new uses of Information Technology to the company.

• Does your organization prepare for an approach for Critical Success Factors? Why?

Critical Success Factors is an approach to Information Technology Planning that has been developed to help identify the information needs of managers. It is a must to be used in order to ensure the organization’s survival and success across its very competitive marketplace. There also a lot of basic statement that an every organization shall possess which are the three to six factors that will eventually result to an organization’s success if only been used very well. Therefore, through Critical Success Factors approach, the company could continuously determine their performance in different areas especially during the stage of strategic IT planning.

• What is the mission, vision, goals of your company? Does it support your business needs? Why?

In every strategic planning, it is important for an organization to identify their vision, mission and goals. An organization should assure that the plan they have been establishing aligns what the organization really need. These capture the essence why an organization still exists. This also has a reference to the organization company profile. It also explains fundamental needs of the organization need to suffice. It basically conveys the core values of an organization towards its clients. It tries to express the unique nature of your company among others. On the other hand, a vision of an organization wanted to perceive what would be their organization look like in the future. How successful they would be someday. It is use to show the desire of the organization towards an end state. It definitely challenges every people in the company to reach something higher and something significant for the success of everyone in the compelling future. Since every organization has this vision, it affords a long-term focus for the entire organization to achieve. The goals and objectives of the company also describe the desired outcome of the organization that mainly sympathize the company’s mission and vision. It is very needed to clear the choices of the organizations about the future. All of these things should be flexible enough to easily adopt form the fast-emerging changes of technology towards the environment.

• What are the principles and values does your company have been using? Why is it necessary?

It is very important for an organization to be guided with a standard set of values and belief in order for their company to follow certain viewpoint in life that could be use for the success of the company. They provide an underlying structure for the decision making of the company which later on is a part of the organization’s culture. These values and beliefs should be applicable to the entire organization for them to understand each other within the organization. Values may be appropriate for the sake of the management, for the quality of service and for the customer’s exceptional treatment.

• Does your company develop an Action Plan? Why?

An action plan is an immediate stroke from the organizations goals and objectives. It is very important for a strategic planning to identify the explicit steps that should be followed to achieve the initiatives and strategic objectives for the plan. Each step just before the strategic planning has been associated with these action plans that geared towards the organizations processes, operations and procedures that been aligned to its business. The action plans illustrated who does what, when does a strategic planning be completed and how will an organization know that the steps they are doing are already completed. Action plans require the supervision of the progress of the objectives for evaluating the performance needed just like what initiatives does.

These are the following questions that I would like to us if ever I would be hired and be invited to develop an organization strategic planning for information systems.

JOHN JUAN or PETER PEDRO?

a.Obviously these two workers have different views on how the systems analysis phase should be conducted. Comment on whose position you sympathize with the most.
b.What method would you propose they take? Why?

Consider the following dialogue between a systems professional, John Juan, and a manager of a department targeted for a new information system, Peter Pedro:

Juan: The way to go about the analysis is to first examine the old system, such as reviewing key documents and observing the workers perform their tasks. Then we can determine which aspects are working well and which should be preserved.

Pedro: We have been through these types of projects before and what always ends up happening is that we do not get the new system we are promised; we get a modified version of the old system.

Juan: Well, I can assure you that will not happen this time. We just want a thorough understanding of what is working well and what isn’t.

Pedro: I would feel much more comfortable if we first started with a list of our requirements. We should spend some time up-front determining exactly what we want the system to do for my department. Then you systems people can come in and determine what portions to salvage if you wish. Just don’t constrain us to the old system.


On the conversation of Peter Pedro the manager and John Juan, a systems professional, I must likely agree on what John Juan trying to say. I understand that John Juan is basically concerned on how really the old system operates and how efficient its performance towards the users until the company decided to change. Although Peter Pedro had also the point of not dealing too much with the old system since they are afraid of just getting the same old system but with just little modifications.

As the Requirement Elicitation Principle is concern, Peter Juan must consider that the systems professional have more knowledge than him. Not that he doesn’t know anything but the aim of requirements elicitation is to understand the problem clearly. Given that system development is determined by a problem.

By reviewing the key documents and observing the workers perform their tasks, the problem could be literally understood. From there on they would already know what is really needed to be change and which should remain. It is right that a thorough understanding with the old system must be the first objective for with this they could already identify and elicit requirements needed for the project.

The analysis stage is the front-end phase of the development process of computer-supported learning systems. This phase constitutes an essential step of the development process and one of the critical issues that determines the quality of the final product. The analysis phase sets the stage for the whole project. The necessary groundwork for understanding what the project is all about is completed in this phase. I believe that they take the strong position that the more effort you put into planning, the smoother the rest of the project will go and the better the quality will be of your final product.

In Analyzing the problem, a system developer must first identify the goal of the system itself. And as John Juan insisted, old system must be examine first to see if there is something wrong with this. An example is the current information is costly to maintain. By then, John Juan could suggest that the next goal would be to reduce maintenance cost. Determining the goals are really a very high requirements for any projects. Next, is to identify the constraints on the solution. An example would be the requirements towards the Operating System look and feel and deciding if they would preserve it or change it.

The goals and constraints should be perceptible in order for the developer and the client have it access at the end of the project management. All of John Juan point’s of view is on evaluating the old system to ascertain the boundary of the system, whether it is on the internal or external environment of the project.

Peter Juan must be right on saying that they should start on listing of the requirements needed. But, he must know that evaluating the old system is not constraining them from the old one, instead giving them a clear picture of a more perfect system.

Because as I have read, doing software requirements specification is not an easy one. That if you finish the software requirements specification in a single time, its already perfect. But, this should undergo revisions in order to be closer on the idea of the client.

The scenario is just somehow related to software prototyping. It has two kinds which are the Evolutionary prototyping and the other is the throw-away prototyping. With the Evolutionary prototyping, the developer must create the prototype of the system that is created for demonstration and requirements elaboration. The reason for this is that the Evolutionary prototype, when built, forms the heart of the new system, and the improvements and further requirements will be. Simply means that this should be made to expect revisions from the old system to the new one.

While throw-away prototyping is a model that eventually be discarded and would not be used for the new system. But throw-away prototyping can be done quickly, so it is much advantage for the system developer. If the users can get quick feedback on their requirements, they may be able to refine them early in the development of the software.

Analysis is the stage by which the needs and conditions of the problem are determined in order to specify the characteristics of the system under development.

This also includes on identifying the requirements resources. Such as the Stakeholders
The domain, the operational environment, the organizational environment , the organizational environment and the application domain.

Next, is to elicit the necessary requirements for the project. So by assessing the old system based on John Juan’s perception, the system developer could actually find out what the users really need. It is not about on what the stakeholders say or opinion. Because not all of the stockholder’s requirements is realistic. Not all information from them would be useful. So before spending too much on doing a non directional system, it is better if they study first the current system leading to specifications to the new system.

Basically, if you just think like a Systems Analyst, obviously you would also choose the side of John Juan.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_prototyping
http://www.scribd.com/doc/4052801/Introduction-to-System-Analysis-and-Design

GOOGLE Business Model

As we have witness for today, World Wide Web have contributed a lot to the lives of many people not just the simple things we do but has come to affect our daily life. Since internet is used for a lot of things like chatting, for research and many more. And one of the most popular corporation that specialized Internet search is Google.

As I first use the internet and have signed up for an e-mail account, honestly, I haven’t thought of using Google since I’m not familiar of it. But just came in my second year in college I observe that Google have more exciting services in my opinion than the other one I used before.

But before Google reached its highest peak of achievement towards the very competitive environment, let just go back first from its brief history.

Google began in January 1996, as a research project by Larry Page, who was soon joined by Sergey Brin, when they were both PhD students at Stanford University in California.They hypothesized that a search engine that analyzed the relationships between websites would produce better ranking of results than existing techniques, which ranked results according to the number of times the search term appeared on a page.
The name "Google" originated from a misspelling of the word "googol",which refers to 10100, the number represented by a 1 followed by one hundred zeros.

Since all of us are already dependent on the internet, Google has made a part of every person using the cloud. Aside from Internet searching, it also produces profits from the advertising company through its services like free-to-user email, social networking, video-sharing services and a lot more.

Information Technology basically plays a big role on how Google works. We use Google as a search engine to obtain information in the internet. Thus, their Information Technology department would likely be responsible for storing information, protecting information, processing the information, transmitting the information as necessary, and later retrieving information as necessary. Google is a place with a very high percentage of tech-savvy people.With this, Google think of creating a technology environment where they can capture the users need and eventually get a more chance to improve the quality of management they have. And yes, acquiring additional contented and happy users. The ability of Google to build their own high-performance systems that are not that costly and can still do massive workloads is such a great IT advantage to Google.They have used it as an advantage for offering a lot of services that cater all the needs of the people using the Internet.

According to Hitwise, Google now has 64 percent of the total search market. These days, searching on google just takes between 0.12 to 0.06 seconds. We could say that it is really, really fast. Google had also build their own servers and storage systems.
Google held on to its commanding lead as the preferred search engine in the U.S. in May, processing almost 60 percent of all queries filed, way ahead of its two closest competitors Yahoo and Microsoft.
Google nabbed 59.3 percent of search queries, followed by Yahoo in a very distant second place with 22 percent and Microsoft's MSN with 12.1 percent, according to market researcher Hitwise.
With the Google huge infrastructure, it has establish a more firm barrier to its rival and maintaining a competitive attitude towards the market.

In every success of a company, competition could never be avoided. Thus, despite of all the achievements Google has, competitors would always be there.

Google Competitors :

• Yahoo!
• Ask.com
• MSN
• AOL
• Teoma
• Wisenut




This is a comparison table that simply shows how competitive Google is in the Market.


Google had been in the business for so long. A lot of services had come and go I guess. But there’s a lot of new services that brought excitement to every user of Google. The services like, several desktop applications, including Google Desktop, Picasa, SketchUp and Google Earth, an interactive mapping program powered by satellite and aerial imagery that covers the vast majority of the planet. Also the Google Docs and Google Calendar which I personally used now. Another is the Google Chrome, an open-source web browser. Just last year, Google Latitude have been launched. It is a software that allows users of mobile phones and other wireless devices to automatically share their whereabouts with family and friends.

We have known Google mainly as just a promising search engine but there are some features of what made it unique form the other search engines. Like Gmail, a web-based e-mail that allows user to store up to 1Gb. Thus, letting the users to store their mails even the oldest one without thinking of deleting it worrying that the inbox would later on hit the limits of mail. We are familiar of GoogleMaps which let users to search for places and driving directions. As a search engine, it is always a plus factor for processing the information very fast. The speed of Google has also been a key factor in its success.

Google might be different from the other because they develop tools and unique applications that internally useful and it is made originally by the Google engineers and later on releases it to the World. It is not all about these tools, but how uniquely the Company unconventional IT strategy made Google different from the other.

And What makes Google so great? It sets the standard for Silicon Valley: free meals, swimming spa, and free doctors onsite. Engineers can spend 20% of time on independent projects. No wonder Google gets 1,300 resumes a day. These are just few of the services and facts that made Google more unique to its competitors.

If you are just a plain Google user, you will never bother to know on how your searches really works. But for Google Engineers, they would be require to think both insanely on how to deliver the best results to the user. As I have remembered on one of the seminar I have attended, just a simple search for “an orange” compromised about 120 bytes of data. It is not really easy to work on Google. As it founded by geeks and will also be run by geeks. A company where 650 smart people gather to develop more helpful tools to the many. And they believe that the most important thing they will always remember is to understand its user and get their attention, especially their trust.

References:

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5131Z620090204
http://www.informationweek.com/news/software/linux/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=192300292
http://www.programmersparadox.com/2008/03/17/googles-unique-advantage/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google

IS Professional and users frustrations

What are the two most frequently experienced causes of frustration of IS professionals and users while working on an IS plan?

In every organization or business transactions, one individual could never avoid the fact that any project it not always lead to achievement of the plan. Since, they are working with an Information System Plan, a strategic planning must be consider.

Strategic planning is an organization's process of defining its strategy, or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy, including its capital and people. Various business analysis techniques can be used in strategic planning, including SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats ) and PEST analysis (Political, Economic, Social, and Technological analysis) or STEER analysis involving Socio-cultural, Technological, Economic, Ecological, and Regulatory factors. According to other source, strategic plan is a document used by an organization to align its organization and budget structure with organizational priorities, missions, and objectives. It is also a process of comprehensive, integrative program planning that considers, at a minimum, the future of current decisions, overall policy, organizational development, and links to operational plans. . A satisfactory strategic plan must be realistic and attainable so as to allow managers and entrepreneurs to think strategically and act operationally. In align with that, strategic plan must be reliable and suitable for the need of the company.

In doing a strategic plan, it is not really known to everyone that there are frustrations that may trigger. Frustrations in a way that it may cause depression and stress to the professionals and users that are doing it. In doing an Information Strategic plan, it is really a must that the user and the professionals doing it must first determine the company’s background and other facts and information that can help and then again be a useful tool for the planning.

Like in the situation of any IS professional, the Systems Analyst/Software Engineers which always consider their clients with systems that they are working on. Seldom it is being denied by the involve parties, that the systems they are developing, least on what they are expecting will lead to failure. Thus, giving frustrations to the Systems Analyst/ Software Engineers itself and especially to the users.

In today's increasingly competitive marketplace, an organization can't afford to fall short in strategic decision-making or execution. But, finding out where and why efforts are falling short can be tricky.

Organizational frustration has been defined by Paul Spector in a very similar fashion, and refers to an interference with goal attainment or maintenance that is caused by some stimulus condition within the organization (Spector, 1978). It has been further narrowed to be defined as the interference with an individual’s ability to carry out their day to day duties effectively (Keenan & Newton, 1984). The sources of organizationalfrustration put forth by Spector include the physical environment (both natural and man-made), the organizational structure and climate, the rules and procedures of the organization, and individuals both in and out of the organization. In addition, the concept of situational constraints (Peters & O'Connor, 1980) has been hypothesized to contribute to organizational frustration (Storms & Spector, 1987). Spector (1978) suggested four reactions to organizational frustration: 1) an emotional response of anger and increased physiological arousal, 2) trying alternative courses of action, 3) aggression, and 4) withdrawal. Of the behavioral reactions, only the second one – that of trying alternative courses of action to obtain the goal – is an adaptive response, while the other three are maladaptive. It is likely that the emotional reaction accompanies one of the three behavioral reactions, although the emotional reaction may be maladaptive by itself and become a further impediment to goal attainment. Clearly, should an individual become frustrated, it is in the best interests of the organization to have the individual respond in an adaptive way and attempt to find another solution to the problem in a clear decisive manner. Spector also put forth the idea that some mild forms of frustration may be seen as challenges rather than problems for some individuals, thus causing a motivational effect rather than a hindering effect and increasing the likelihood of an adaptive response rather than a maladaptive one.

Frustration with technology is a major reason why people cannot use computers to reach their goal, hesitate to use computers, or avoid computers altogether. A recent study from the Pew Internet and American Life study found that a large percentage of people never go online, because they find the technology to be too frustrating and overwhelming (Pew, 2003). Currently, 42% of Americans do not use the Internet, in large part because they find it to be frustrating and confusing. This is not surprising; previous research on user frustration found that users wasted nearly one-third to one-half of the time spent on the computer, due to frustrating experiences (Bessiere, 2002; Bessiere, Lazar, Ceaparu, Robinson, & Shneiderman, 2003).

Unfortunately, computer applications are often designed with interfaces that are hard to use, and features that are hard to find. Even government web sites, which are supposed to provide easy access to government information for all citizens, are frequently hard to use and produce high levels of user frustration (Ceaparu, 2003). Frustration with technology can lead to wasted time, changed mood, and affected interaction with colleagues. When users in a workplace are frustrated with their computers, it can lead to lower levels of job satisfaction (Murrell & Sprinkle, 1993). In some cases, user frustration with technology can even lead to increased blood volume pressure and muscle tension (Riseberg, Klein, Fernandez, & Picard, 1998)

Research on computer frustration has shown that that computer self-efficacy and attitudes play a significant role in reducing the frustration levels in computing. Level of comfort with the computer and the determination to fix a problem, which are associated with a high level of computer self efficacy, both appear as important factors in both the immediate experience of frustration as well as the overall frustration level after a session of computer use. In the previous study on computer frustration, computer attitude variables mediated the experience of frustration but experience did not. Simply using a computer, therefore, does not lessen user frustration; rather it is one’s attitude towards it and comfort with it.

Computers can be valuable tools, and networked resources via the Internet can be beneficial to many different populations and communities. Unfortunately, when people are unable to reach their task goals due to frustrating experiences, this can hinder the effectiveness of technology.

Computing systems this era raises high in a short period of time. Though our country is a 5 year behind than those countries abroad, still using internet is a common tool for someone like in communications. And more likely in a business, it is also a trend of using internet and intranet in their operations since it can help progress their company. Now a day, an even small scale business also acquires using internet and computers for their daily routine. That is because it can help them improve their skills and at the same time it can lessen the work load since using computers doesn’t requires much time.

Some organizations, are simply better than most at producing results. Likely, they have learned to address frustrations, any one of which is capable of stymieing the effectiveness of the organization. It maybe they are not performing their duties well. Besides, the execution of their strategic plan may be lacking. There could also be business results that are not optimal.

Strategic execution is a difficult discipline for any organization. They might say that "We don't need more knowing; we need more doing." This usually leads to frustration; a feeling that your annual strategic planning process is ineffective. And in the end resulting to disappointment with the lack of action, traction, and results from your strategic planning efforts.

Improving business results is the primary reason for engaging in strategic planning, yet in many organizations, this common exercise feels like an exercise in futility. Initially, holding a strategic planning session brings the executive team together by stimulating a lot of good conversation and new ideas. This feels good at the time, but unfortunately, it's usually nothing more than a temporary "sugar buzz." Once the session is over and the enthusiasm begins to fade, each team member returns to the status quo. They quickly get pulled back into tactical fire fighting, focusing their attention on their own department needs rather than the organizational plans agreed to in the planning session. Without clear, consistent action on shared initiatives, the entire organization struggles to establish any kind of momentum.

Basically, we could never say or predict what will happen in every system that will be developing by any Systems Analyst/Software Engineers and so on throughout their job. To have a touch of reality here, we have interviewed an IS professional on what did he thinks the two most frequently experienced causes of frustration of IS professionals and users while working on an IS plan.

According to him the following could be considered as the usual frustrations any IS professional and users may encounter during an IS Plan.

· Budget

A budget is one of those pivotal tools that is used across many departments within a company. For the developers, it dictates how much time to spend on specific areas of the application. For the project manager, it's a baseline used to determine whether the project is on track. For sales or the client, it correlates directly to the success of the effort. It's no surprise that one of the biggest issues in creating a budget is interpretation.

Based on their organization, there are certain situation that the budget for a particular project is not properly allocated. Thus, giving a perspective for them on not continuing the project since they have given limited resources and eventually could make the project fail. This is really a frustration to the Software developer’s side especially if the system is already in the process of User Acceptance Test. It is already hard for them to continue for they have insufficient funds.

Regardless of how close you come to reality, a client will be much happier if your project comes in below budget than over it; however, too high a risk value can create sticker shock, revealing inexperience and creating misgivings about your management abilities. By following the guidelines we've suggested and applying some common sense, you can be assured that your team, project drivers, and client will enjoy the benefits of a well-estimated project.

At the same time the user will be more frustrated because the deliverables are not being given to them properly and on time. The time problem could also be included in this frustration for if less budget is allocated to a certain project, there will be a tendency for the developer to cram if it already in the period of presenting it to its client. As I have said, the users are expecting for the said project to be deliver on that time then because of some delays, the developers tend to commit mistakes and in the end, ensuing to a project failure. And another big cost is at stake for this letdown.

· Well-Structured design

Another would be this one, according to him, the design of a certain system should be in a manner of a well-structured design so that in a middle of any software development the client would not always complain. Because for them, the users have the tendency of adding up enhancements to their system. Suggesting new additional features, hence, the system will be prone to bugs. It would be a great frustration for the developers because they could not easily perfect the system for the complaints of the client can give to them. Also, in the user’s side, it would be a frustration for the slow productivity the developer could have give to them.

Both on the users and developers are the frustrations could been experiences. Since they are both involved in the Information System Plan, they cannot avoid these certain things. For the developers, it is very frustrating for not giving the proper service to their clients and not offering the satisfaction the users should also accept. It is just so sad to hear that these frustration are being encountered also because of the developer or the user either. For the reason that every success of a system comes from the cooperation of the involve people. Not to play as the worsening effect to any developer or a user instead.

References:

http://www.allbusiness.com/human-resources/workforce-management-hiring-consulting/872033-1.html

http://www.stanford.edu/group/siqss/itandsociety/v01i03/v01i03a02.pdf

to our interviewee from Davao Light and Power Company